‘When is enough enough?’ asked villagers angry about the increasing number of homes due to be built in Shinfield, Spencers Wood and Three Mile Cross.

‘When is enough enough?’ asked villagers angry about the increasing number of homes due to be built in Shinfield, Spencers Wood and Three Mile Cross.

The three villages are all part of the Wokingham Borough Council’s west of Wokingham Strategic Development Location (SDL), which is set for 2,500 homes between now and 2026.

But the total number of homes developers have applied to build exceeds the number by around 150 properties.

A community forum at Shinfield Parish Hall, in School Green, last Wednesday attracted around 20 residents and developers David Wilson Homes and Taylor Wimpey.

One woman said: “I think we are in a dangerous position in this parish, the number of new houses is growing and growing and there seems to be no control over it.

“The Core Strategy states 2,500 homes but applications for the SDL total 2,650. What teeth has the Core Strategy got, because if anyone comes forward over the next 15 years and if they have a reasonable application, Wokingham Borough Council can say yes?”

Chris Howard, the council’s planning officer for the SDL, explained if the number of houses set out in the council’s Core Strategy were built, it would be easier for the council to refuse future planning applications for the area.

The woman added: “But you are already developing over that. When is enough enough?”

Councillor Keith Baker, executive member for planning and highways, said: “We are never going to get the exact number. It is going to fluctuate, generally always higher, but it will be in that region.”

The woman asked: “How big is a bit? Is the bit 100 homes or 1,000?”

Last month David Wilson Homes and Taylor Wimpey submitted plans to build 900 homes in Spencers Wood and Three Mile Cross and a separate application giving detailed plans to build 276 homes on land between Croft Road and Hyde End Road in Spencers Wood.

Both developers are part of the South of M4 SDL Consortium along with the University of Reading.

The University of Reading already has permission to build 126 homes in Cutbush Lane, Shinfield, and 1,200 homes plus 150 specialist housing units in Shinfield West.

Developments by Bovis and Bellway Homes in Grazeley Road and Basingstoke Road, which are under construction, also contribute towards the total 2,500 homes for the area.